Maine Libel Law

Bruce Plante and Dennis Plante v. Ronald P. Long

[¶1] Bruce and Dennis Plante appeal from the entry of a summary judgment in the Superior Court (York County, Douglas, J.) in favor of Ronald P. Long on their defamation action. The court concluded that the Plantes failed to make the necessary prima facie showing that Long acted with actual malice. We affirm the judgment. I. BACKGROUND [¶2] The following facts are taken fr... More...

$0 (09-11-2017 - ME)

Chalmers Hardenbergh v. Patrons Oxford Insurance Company

[¶1] Patrons Oxford Insurance Company appeals from a summary judgment of the Superior Court (Cumberland County, Wheeler, J.) declaring that Patrons Oxford has a duty to defend Chalmers Hardenbergh, pursuant to his homeowners insurance policy, against a third-party suit. Patrons Oxford contends that it has no duty to defend Hardenbergh because the third-party suit is based entirely on activity fal... More...

$0 (07-16-2013 - ME)

Centennial Insurance Company v. Robert Patterson

In this insurance coverage dispute, appellant-insurer Centennial Insurance Company ("Centennial") seeks review of the district court's grant of summary judgment to appellee-insured veterinarian Dr. Robert Patterson. The district court declared that Centennial was obligated under an insurance policy to legally defend Patterson in a lawsuit instituted against him by Carol Murphy. After careful cons... More...

$0 (04-30-2009 - ME)

Joyce Schelling v. R. Kenneth Lindell, Jr.

[1] This case invites us to address Maine's anti-SLAPP1 statute, 14 M.R.S. § 556 (2007), in the context of political, and possibly defamatory, speech contained in a Legislator's letter to the editor. In doing so, we conclude that the suit against the defendant cannot proceed. [2] R. Kenneth Lindell appeals from an order denying his special motion to dismiss filed pursuant to 14 M.R.S. �... More...

$0 (03-25-2008 - ME)

<a href="http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=99-2024.01A" target="_new">John Garrett v. Tandy Corporation d/b/a Radio Shack</a>

In this case, plaintiff-appellant John Garrett, a black man, alleges that he was the object of both racial discrimination and slander during and after a shopping trip to a Radio Shack store. The district court dismissed the case in its entirety. We affirm the dismissal of the appellant's race-discrimination claim but reverse as to his defamation claim. I. BACKGROUND This appeal stands ... More...

$0 (07-10-2002 - ME)